In The News

In addition to working for Bone McAllester Norton, attorney James Crumlin spends his Monday and Thursday evenings motivating Nashvillians to improve their lives through fitness. His free workouts on the grounds of the State Capitol have become increasingly popular, with as many as 100 people showing up for each session.

“I just want to see people healthy, on the road or on the path to getting healthy,” James told WSMV in a recent interview.

We’re proud to have a team member who strives to improve people’s lives both in and outside of our firm. To read the full story, visit WSMV’s website.

For more than 30 years, Best Lawyers® has identified the leading attorneys and law firms in the United States and 70 countries worldwide. The methodology behind Best Lawyers’ selection is based upon an extensive peer-review process and Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers "the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice."

Industry veteran Doug Sloan is bringing his legal expertise to Bone McAllester Norton PLLC to lead the firm’s Land Use and Zoning practice. He comes to the firm with more than 15 years of experience in government relations and land use and zoning regulations.

Most recently, Sloan served as the Vice President and Chief Legal Officer at the Metro Nashville Airport Authority, during a time when BNA embarked on a $1.2 billion expansion.

“As Nashville’s real estate market continues to grow, having Doug as a part of our team is a great situation for us and our clients,” said Charles Robert Bone, president and CEO of Bone McAllester Norton. “He brings a wealth of knowledge in development and strategic city planning, and his expertise in land use and zoning allows us to grow an important practice at our firm. Doug will be a huge asset for our clients and our entire team.”

A native Nashvillian, Sloan is best known locally for seeing Nashville through immense growth during his tenure leading the Metro Planning Department. He also served in the Office of Mayor Karl Dean, where he managed land purchases for Nashville after the 2010 flood and as liaison to the Tennessee General Assembly for the city. He advised a variety of Metropolitan Government departments throughout his career, including Codes, Planning, Public Works and Water services.

“I’ve admired Bone McAllester Norton’s work for a long time, and it’s an honor to join a firm of this caliber,” Sloan said. “I am looking forward to serving as a resource for real estate professionals and developers in the Nashville area and continuing to play a role in this city’s long-term and responsible growth.”

Bone McAllester Norton’s Land Use and Zoning practice group will represent a diverse set of clients, including commercial developers, property owners, home builders, small and large businesses in various industries, banks, and governmental agencies. The firm also deals with all types of land use and zoning litigation, in consultation with the Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice group. Attorneys in this group have substantial hands-on experience in rezoning, compliance with zoning overlay requirements, public–private partnerships and increasing entitlements in highly regulated zoning districts.

Sloan earned his bachelor’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University and his J.D. from Nashville School of Law.

On July 1, Bone McAllester Norton attorney Raquel Bellamy joined nearly 400 supporters, scholars and allies of Equal Chance for Education (ECE) for the nonprofit’s Salsa for Scholarships reception. The third annual event was held at the Plaza Mariachi and awarded college scholarships to 86 students who are not eligible for student loans or financial aid because of their legal status.

ECE was founded in 2014 to enable opportunities for higher education for without regard for race, religion, or nationality. The nonprofit has since supported more than 300 Tennessee students at 15 colleges and universities, including 34 graduates. Next fall, ECE will enroll students at Trevecca, Cumberland, University of Memphis, Middle Tennessee State University, Milligan, Maryville, East Tennessee State University, and Carson Newman. Bellamy currently serves on ECE’s Board of Directors.

For more information about Equal Chance for Education, visit its website.

Bone McAllester Norton attorney James Crumlin, Jr. is a featured guest columnist in Nashville Business Journal. In his article titled “School’s out, interns are in: Office internship advice from a Nashville attorney,” Crumlin offers key points for employers to keep in mind when selecting and onboarding summer interns.

Crumlin concentrates his practice in the area of labor and employment law, where he counsels management on issues arising from the employment relationship. He helps clients including Tennessee-based businesses, entrepreneurs and start-up ventures to navigate the corporate legal landscape and avoid costly mistakes. His experience includes business formation and strategy, funding and investor relations, contracts, employment compliance issues, risk management, litigation and dispute resolution. He also serves as outside general counsel for several small and midsize businesses.

Bone McAllester Norton PLLC announced today the hiring of attorney Courtney Lutz in the firm’s Nashville office. Lutz focuses her legal practice on commercial litigation, with broad previous experience in the areas of business disputes, personal injury, legal and medical malpractice, premises liability, entertainment law, criminal defense and highly contested divorces. She is licensed to practice law in Tennessee and Kentucky.

Prior to joining Bone McAllester Norton, Lutz practiced at Leitner, Williams, Dooley & Napolitan, PLLC, where she represented both large corporations and small businesses in personal injury and professional liability lawsuits. She also represented attorneys and healthcare professionals in malpractice actions.

“Courtney’s passion for litigation, ability to connect with clients and deep breadth of experience in successfully managing and resolving cases in multiple practice areas makes her an outstanding addition to our firm,” said Charles Robert Bone, president and CEO of Bone McAllester Norton. “We look forward to supporting Courtney as she embarks on the next chapter of her career at Bone McAllester Norton.”

Lutz received a Bachelor’s of Business Administration in Music Business, magna cum laude, from Belmont University in Nashville, and also earned her Juris Doctor degree, magna cum laude, from Belmont. While in law school, she served as the Vice President of Appellate Advocacy for the university’s Board of Advocates, and was the Executive Articles Editor of the Belmont Law Review. Lutz also worked as a legal intern for both the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the 16th District Attorney General’s Office.

A native of Madisonville, Ky., Lutz is also an avid musician. When not practicing law, she sings gospel music with her family band, The Childress Family, across the Southeastern U.S.

A local favorite for recovering couch potatoes to seasoned triathletes alike, the Capitol Steps Workout celebrated its seventh anniversary on May 30 with a short workout followed by music, food, a raffle for prizes and giveaways from local vendors such as Fleet Feet Nashville, On Running, Lululemon and Nashville Fitmagazine.

Attorney James Crumlin leads the workout every Monday and Thursday at 6 p.m. on the steps of the Tennessee State Capitol and welcomes all levels to join for free fun and fitness.

More than 100 people attended the workout’s seventh anniversary celebration on May 30, including Nashville’s WSMV News 4. Watch the segment on WSMV News 4.

Cable is Tennessee’s largest and most established network of diverse professionals committed to connecting women and opportunity. The Promote Women Award honors an individual or company who personifies the purpose of Cable through the promotion of business leadership opportunities for women.

"I am passionate about the promotion and advancement of women and women’s issues. I am so honored and thankful to Cable for this award," Perry said.

In March 2019, Perry chaired the 29th annual ATHENA Award & Scholarship Program, a unique community-supported event organized and sponsored through the collaborative efforts of local women’s organizations in partnership with area businesses and individual sponsors, including Cable.

As an attorney, Perry concentrates her practice in the areas of real estate and commercial lending, regularly handling matters related to the conveyance, acquisition and development of commercial property. She also represents financial institutions and borrowers in loan transactions involving all types of collateral and projects.

NASHVILLE (June 18, 2019) — Bone McAllester Norton PLLC is honored to announce four of the firm’s attorneys have been named to Nashville Business Journal’s 2019 Best of the Bar, a prestigious list that recognizes leading legal professionals from across Middle Tennessee.

Designed to determine which attorneys are considered best by their peers, award recipients were selected through a public nomination process, followed by due diligence from the Nashville Business Journal.

David M Anthony Attorney at Bone McAllester Norton

David Anthony represents banks, businesses and individuals in commercial litigation in state, federal and bankruptcy courts throughout Middle Tennessee. In one of 2018’s most newsworthy local Bankruptcy Court cases, Anthony represented a large Nashville car dealership in its purchase of all assets of another regional dealership, including eight separate locations and over 400 vehicles. At the end of 2018, Anthony was one of three lawyers considered by Governor Bill Haslam for appointment to serve as Chancellor for the Davidson County Courts. In addition, Anthony facilitates the law firm’s volunteer efforts with the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee. In 2018, he was named an Attorney for Justice by the Tennessee Supreme Court.

Anne Sumpter Arney Attorney at Bone McAllester Norton

Anne Sumpter Arney has more than 30 years of experience working with many Nashville healthcare companies and medical professionals. She advises her clients on matters related to business law and transactional issues, and assists healthcare clients in navigating ever-changing healthcare laws and regulations.

Andrea P Perry Attorney at Bone McAllester Norton

Andrea Perry concentrates her practice in the areas of real estate and commercial lending, regularly handling matters related to the conveyance, acquisition and development of commercial property. She also represents financial institutions and borrowers in loan transactions involving all types of collateral and projects. Recently, Perry assisted the African Methodist Episcopal Church’s (AMEC) sale of its historic property in downtown Nashville in excess of $21 million to Circle South Development, LLC. In addition, Perry also practices corporate law and serves as general counsel to a number of prominent businesses in Nashville.

Stephen J Zralek Attorney at Bone McAllester Norton

Stephen Zralek has more than 20 years of experience as an intellectual property and business litigator, helping clients resolve complex disputes involving copyrights, trademarks, rights of publicity, trade secrets and non-compete violations in the business and entertainment arenas. He recently won both a copyright infringement jury trial in U.S. District Court and a trademark infringement trial in the Tennessee Business Court. In 2019, Mayor David Briley appointed him to the Music City Music Council. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Nashville Bar Association and the Sexual Assault Center, as well as the Board of Ambassadors for Conexión Américas.

In May 2019, Nashville Business Journal honored the legal professionals in a special print publication and online. The honorees will also be celebrated at an awards reception at City Winery on Tuesday, June 18.

On May 22, Bone McAllester Norton celebrated the firm’s annual Staff Appreciation Day at its Nashville office. To recognize the staff’s hard work, reliability and dedication to the firm “Time After Time”, staff were treated to a celebratory luncheon. During the lunch, remarks were given by attorneys Sam McAllester and Charles W. Bone as well as President and CEO Charles Robert Bone who reflected upon the history of the firm and the necessity of each staff member.

“While the firm appreciates the efforts of our staff every day, we also feel it’s important to dedicate a day each year to honoring them and the vital roles they play on our team,” said Charles Robert Bone. “Bone McAllester Norton’s continued success is a testament to the combined passion of the firm as a whole.”

Bone McAllester Norton attorneys Charles W Bone, Stephen Zralek and Raquel Bellamy recently attended "Cafecito: A Cup of Coffee for Conexión Américas” breakfast reception. The annual event was held at Music City Center and benefited the nonprofit organization’s mission to help Latino families realize their aspirations for social and economic advancement through their integration into the Middle Tennessee community.

Conexión Américas was founded in 2002 to address some of the most pressing challenges and opportunities created by recent demographic changes in the Greater Nashville region as an increasing number of Latino families move to Tennessee in search of a better life. Raquel Bellamy currently serves on the board for Conexión Américas, while Stephen Zralek is a former board president. Zralek served as chair of the Cafecito in 2011 and Charles W. Bone served as co-chair of Cafecito in 2010.

Bone McAllester Norton sponsored a hole and provided free bottles of water at the Hendersonville Chamber of Commerce’s 23rd Annual Golf Classic at the Bluegrass Yacht & Country Club. The event included a great day of golf and networking, followed by an awards ceremony in the main ballroom of the clubhouse.

The Hendersonville Area Chamber of Commerce is Sumner County’s largest chamber, representing the interests of more than 800 member businesses and 8,730 member employees throughout the area. Bone McAllester Norton attorney Marty Cook will serve as board chair of the Hendersonville Chamber of Commerce for 2019-20. Cook works in the firm’s Sumner County office and concentrates his practice in the area of small business law, commercial litigation, employment litigation and premises liability litigation. He represents clients in all aspects of litigation, arbitration and mediation.

For more information about Hendersonville Chamber of Commerce, visit its website.

At the annual NBA LAW Day luncheon on May 3, Bone McAllester Norton was honored to receive the 2019 Leadership Award from Nashville Bar Association (NBA)’s Diversity Committee, the bar’s highest level of recognition for contributions that bolster diversity and professional success.

“From the firm’s beginnings, diversity has been a key pillar to our professional and ethical belief system. We are committed to treating all people with whom we have contact—clients, employees, adversaries, the public, and each other—with the highest level of dignity, civility and respect,” said Bone McAllester Norton President and CEO, Charles Robert Bone. “I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Nashville Bar Association for this honor, as well as each of our attorneys who uphold this belief system, both in law and community engagement. Together, we can take great pride in this honor as we continue to strive toward diversity and equality across our great city.”

Each year, the firm hosts an Annual Fellowship Breakfast on Martin Luther King Day that has become an important community outreach across Nashville. The breakfast is typically attended by 500 to 600 leaders in the Nashville community. In 2019, the Annual Fellow Breakfast was held at the new Tennessee State Museum and featured a short-film produced by the firm entitled, “Perspectives”.

For more information about the Nashville Bar Association, visit its website.

Stephen Zralek, a Member of Bone McAllester Norton, recently led a team that obtained a unanimous jury verdict for a homebuilder when a competing homebuilder, its owner and a realtor infringed the copyright in our client's original architectural work known as the Brentwood II. At the conclusion of the four-day trial in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, the jury returned a verdict in favor of our client, Singletary Construction, LLC, finding all three defendants liable for copyright infringement, and awarding all of their profits from the infringement to Singletary Construction.

When the contract between Singletary Construction and a homebuyer fell through on the purchase and sale of the Brentwood II, the buyer's realtor instructed a competing homebuilder to "build the same home" in the very same subdivision, and to even "match" photographs of the Brentwood II. She went so far as to put these instructions in the contract with the competing homebuilder. For its part, the competing homebuilder examined photographs of the Brentwood II, utilized the same cabinet designer to "match" the Brentwood II's layout, and copied both the overall layout and arrangement of rooms, even down to details as minute as the wainscoting, crown molding, and trim around return air vents. The realtor was held contributorily liable because she knowingly induced the infringement, and the owner of the competing homebuilder was held vicariously liable because he supervised the infringement and received a direct financial benefit from it.

Bone McAllester Norton attorney Stephen Zralek co-chaired the Sexual Assault Center’s inaugural 1-in-6 Breakfast, held on April 25, 2019 at Loews Vanderbilt Hotel to raise awareness and financial support for the 41-year old non-profit. Over 300 guests attended, helping raise over $100,000 in contributions. According to the Sexual Assault Center (SAC), one in six boys will be sexually assaulted before their 18th birthday. SAC's mission is to provide healing for children, adults and families affected by sexual assault and to end sexual violence through counseling, education and advocacy. The event began with welcome remarks from Nashville Mayor David Briley, who used the opportunity to announce he is including $100,000 in direct appropriations funding for the SAC when he submits his budget to the Metro Council for the new fiscal year. NBA All-Star and childhood sexual assault survivor, Kenny Anderson, who now serves as the head basketball coach for the firm’s client Fisk University, delivered the keynote address. David Plazas, Opinion Editor at The Tennessean, served as the master of ceremonies. Father Ryan High School's award-winning drumline kicked off the event.

Bone McAllester Norton attorney I’Ashea Myles-Dihigo co-presented a workshop on critical insurance issues during the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Annual Forum on Construction Law held April 24-27 in Hollywood, Florida.

Titled “A Closer Look at Insurance Issues Following a Natural Disaster,” the workshop covered topics such as builder’s risk insurance, business interruption losses and alternate insurance plans that can aid clients in the event of a natural disaster.

Members of ABA’s Forum on Construction Law represent all segments of the construction industry: owners, design professionals, general contractors, construction managers, subcontractors, suppliers, insurers and sureties. The Forum’s mission is to serve the construction industry through education and leadership while aiding in the professional development of construction attorneys.

I’Ashea Myles-Dihigo focuses her practice on construction law, real estate law, employment law and commercial business law, with an emphasis on dispute resolution, including mediation, arbitration, jury and bench trials in both federal and state court.

For more information on ABA’s Forum on Construction Law, visit its website.

Bone McAllester Norton is honored to be the recipient of Lipscomb University’s 2019 Mary Morris Award for Exemplary Service for its legal and philanthropic efforts in greater Nashville. The firm was specifically recognized for our work on behalf of the Lipscomb Initiative for Education (LIFE) program students Cyntoia Brown and Michelle Martin. This award is given each year to a member of the Lipscomb community who exhibits an exemplary spirit of public service in honor of Mary Morris, a Lipscomb College of Education faculty member who lost her battle with cancer in 2005.

On April 18, the firm was recognized during an award reception with the Morris family and past award recipients at Lipscomb University’s Ezell Chapel. The award includes a $1,000 honorarium which the firm donated to the LIFE program. The LIFE program allows for inmates at the Tennessee Prison for Women to take college classes through Lipscomb University. Traditional undergraduate students join the women in class; both groups of students work towards an Associates Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, or a Master’s Degree.

“From your work with Cyntoia and Michelle to the MLK Day Breakfast to the countless ways your firm has created and sustained a culture of service to our community, your work is exactly the kind of work this award is meant to honor,” said Randy Spivey, academic director of the Fred D. Gray Institute for Law, Justice and Society at Lipscomb University.

For more information about Lipscomb University’s LIFE Program, visit their website.

Bone McAllester Norton attorney I’Ashea Myles-Dihigo is a featured guest columnist in the Tennessee Department of Transportation Civil Rights Division’s recent newsletter for its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program. In her article titled “Be Careful Who You Lien: A Change in the Law,” Myles-Dihigo offers legal advice and pointers on a new state law that covers liens involving general contractors, sub-contractors and laborers.

Myles-Dihigo focuses her practice on construction law, real estate law, employment law and commercial business law, with an emphasis on dispute resolution, including mediation, arbitration, jury and bench trials in both federal and state court.

On April 6, Charles W. Bone was honored at the 2019 “Seed to Harvest” Spring Celebration for the Salvus Center, Inc. a faith-based primary care health center in Gallatin, Tennessee. Salvus seeks to reclaim the Biblical and historical commitment to care for poor and underprivileged patients so they can experience wholeness, wellness and healing. Joined by more than 300 guests, the annual event celebrated the volunteers and donors who have supported the center since its opening in 2006. All proceeds benefitted the center’s programs and future patients. Tennessee State Representative and Bone McAllester Norton attorney Johnny Garrett and his wife Kara Garrett served as event chairs.

In 2004, Bone was among the group of community leaders who founded Salvus Center to address the health care concerns for people who work and support their families but cannot afford health care and do not qualify for TennCare. After much planning and meeting, the Salvus Center started seeing patients in 2006 with the vision that every citizen in Sumner County would have access to affordable health care. Over the years, the center has served more than 62,000 patients.

Bone was introduced as the Honored Guest of the 2019 Spring Celebration Dinner by his daughter, Baylor Bone Swindell, who shared how her grandparents Nokes and Billy Bone established the family’s tradition of giving back to others in Sumner County.

Each year during Women’s History Month, Nashville joins more than 500 communities around the world to honor exceptional women leaders through the ATHENA Awards Program. The 29th Annual ATHENA Award & Scholarship Program, powered by Nashville Cable, one of Tennessee’s largest networks of professional women, was held at the Country Music Hall Of Fame and Museum on March 28. Bone McAllester Norton attorney Andrea P. Perry chaired this year's event. Andrea P. Perry beautifully opened the program saying, “Tonight is very special as we are here to recognize, honor, elevate and celebrate some amazing women. We recognize these women because as Martha Mertz said, ‘if women’s strengths and contributions as leaders are publicly [recognized], they can no longer be dismissed. We honor these women for their excellence and their sacrifices. We elevate these women so that other women will be drawn to their light, will be inspired by their stories and will know that this level of achievement is possible for them. And last, we celebrate these women for their example, their service and their inspiring acts”

The Nashville ATHENA Award Program is a unique community-supported program, organized and sponsored through the collaborative efforts of local women’s organizations in partnership with local businesses and individual sponsors. The 2019 reception honored Mendy Mazzo with the traditional ATHENA award for demonstration of excellence, creativity and initiative in her profession, her contribution to the community and mentorship to other women. The evening also recognized Brenda Gadd with the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award, an award created in 2011 to highlight emerging female leaders between the ages of 25 to 40 who demonstrate excellence in their profession, improve the quality of life for others in the community and serving as role models for young women, both personally and professionally.

From Bone McAllester Norton’s beginning, the firm’s leaders have valued creating a culture founded upon making a difference for good. We are proud of the various ways the firm’s attorneys choose to serve the Nashville community.

For more information about the ATHENA awards, visit Nashville Cable’s website.

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